Zorn calls team "Soft"

I think Zorn's offense is soft.

This is the billion dollar question for the skins. Is it the players not showing up or the system itself?

I think the answer also includes the structure and the strategy of the front office.

Well the Ravens just have a vitality we don't have right now. They're a home grown team with a lot of depth.

Maybe Coach Zorn's comments will light a fire. I know that one important part of what really lights a fire under a team is a sense that you are always in contention to have a starting job, and that if you play well enough, you'll be the starter. Your play is what determines whether and how much you play.

At the quarterback position, Jason Campbell, a good person with respectable talent, got installed as quarterback, but I think he should have lost his job permanently to Todd Collins after the way Collins played at the end of 2007. Collins earned the starting job. But the Redskins wanted to put Campbell back in as a starter at the beginning of 2008, and closed the competition from the onset.

Then, after the season, deciding they'd made a mistake, the upper management goes gangbusters to try to trade the house to get a new quarterback in the offseason, ignoring Todd Collins and a potential star in Colt Brennan on their own roster.

All of this sends a very de-motivating message to players in my view. You can play your heart out and do superb, like Todd Collins, but it doesn't effect whether you'll play. That's for upper management to make a decision about.

You can be a budding potential star like Colt Brennan, but you can find yourself on a team ready to make huge sacrifices to bring on some shiny player from afar at your position.

If you want players to play hard, one of the keys is setting up a situation where there is a direct connection between how hard and well they play and whether and how much they play.

Otherwise you get players who play soft. There already are fabulously well paid free agents at the position you're playing at. You know you don't have a chance. You know that the players you're playing with are there because they were brought here or installed here. You know that the effort isn't what is paramount.

The Baltimore Ravens are built on the draft; they aren't a handpicked team. They play with a great deal of energy and passion because they know that is what gives them the opportunity to start. Starters aren't installed - they are always challenged.

I hope Jim Zorn is able to remake this team. I like Jim Zorn and I think he has a ton to offer. But the thing is that the coach is another replaceable part. He could easily be dumped for yet another new coach (how many have we had here?). How many coaches have the Pittsburgh Steelers had since 1969? Three coaches.

OK, time to step down from my soapbox!

Jay Cutler has a far better arm than Todd Collins and better ability to extend the play with his legs than Todd Collins. He also is a mechanically sound QB and thus can put the ball in the right place. That is how much Collins is outclassed by Cutler.
Not to mention Collins had the noteriety last year to be mentioned in media reports as stuggling badly in training camp while JC was showing competence. At least that didn't happen this year and he's shown comfort in the WCO.

Jay Cutler has a far better arm than Todd Collins and better ability to extend the play with his legs than Todd Collins. He also is a mechanically sound QB and thus can put the ball in the right place. That is how much Collins is outclassed by Cutler.
Not to mention Collins had the noteriety last year to be mentioned in media reports as stuggling badly in training camp while JC was showing competence. At least that didn't happen this year and he's shown comfort in the WCO.

You mean Campbell?

Baltimore's training camp is a pretty intense camp w/ lots of hitting. The skins camp is a pretty relaxed one compared to many around the league. I don't know which is better, i think it depends on the team. Our's might be better as intense.

You mean Campbell?
Yeah. I don't use abbreviations for Jay Cutler.

Well, it might get more intense this week. I think Zorn has wanted to avoid the burnout and injuries which hit the team late last season by not being too intense too early. But, after the other night, he seems pissed, so maybe he'll amp up the volume now.

Why do folks continually post links from PFT? Where did Zorn use the word "soft"? Did I miss something? Another case of PFT just trying to get hits.

Why do folks continually post links from PFT? Where did Zorn use the word "soft"? Did I miss something? Another case of PFT just trying to get hits.

You sure did, the presser. For your reading pleasure.

They did play soft as Zorn stated (and all watched) and he's spot on! Or the score board would not have been 23-0.

As Backups Struggle, Questions On Depth Arise (http://www.redskins.com/gen/articles/As_Backups_Struggle__Questions_On_Depth_Arise_4692 9.jsp)

Well the Ravens just have a vitality we don't have right now. They're a home grown team with a lot of depth.

Maybe Coach Zorn's comments will light a fire. I know that one important part of what really lights a fire under a team is a sense that you are always in contention to have a starting job, and that if you play well enough, you'll be the starter. Your play is what determines whether and how much you play.

At the quarterback position, Jason Campbell, a good person with respectable talent, got installed as quarterback, but I think he should have lost his job permanently to Todd Collins after the way Collins played at the end of 2007. Collins earned the starting job. But the Redskins wanted to put Campbell back in as a starter at the beginning of 2008, and closed the competition from the onset.

Then, after the season, deciding they'd made a mistake, the upper management goes gangbusters to try to trade the house to get a new quarterback in the offseason, ignoring Todd Collins and a potential star in Colt Brennan on their own roster.

All of this sends a very de-motivating message to players in my view. You can play your heart out and do superb, like Todd Collins, but it doesn't effect whether you'll play. That's for upper management to make a decision about.

You can be a budding potential star like Colt Brennan, but you can find yourself on a team ready to make huge sacrifices to bring on some shiny player from afar at your position.

If you want players to play hard, one of the keys is setting up a situation where there is a direct connection between how hard and well they play and whether and how much they play.

Otherwise you get players who play soft. There already are fabulously well paid free agents at the position you're playing at. You know you don't have a chance. You know that the players you're playing with are there because they were brought here or installed here. You know that the effort isn't what is paramount.

The Baltimore Ravens are built on the draft; they aren't a handpicked team. They play with a great deal of energy and passion because they know that is what gives them the opportunity to start. Starters aren't installed - they are always challenged.

I hope Jim Zorn is able to remake this team. I like Jim Zorn and I think he has a ton to offer. But the thing is that the coach is another replaceable part. He could easily be dumped for yet another new coach (how many have we had here?). How many coaches have the Pittsburgh Steelers had since 1969? Three coaches.

OK, time to step down from my soapbox!I don't necessarily agree with the player assessments, but boy is this an excellent post.